India’s I & B Ministry Wusses Out?

Nothing pisses me off more than moral policing by an inept government who decides what movies I should watch or what books I should read. Dangit reports that the movie, Da Vinci Code is purpotedly being held back from release by India’s I & B Ministry. I’ll truly lose any faith that I have left in the Indian democratic state and freedom of expression principles if this happens for real.

Update: Atanu’s thoughts highlight the crux of the issue at hand here:

My conviction is that only those whose faith is on very shaky ground feel threatened by books and movies that cast doubt on those beliefs. Their violent reaction is indeed a sign of their own faithlessness and should be cause for some introspection. But whether they figure out their insecurities or not, is not such a major issue. What is a major issue is when the government capitulates and drives one more nail into the coffin of free speech and liberty.

Noisette wonders at the strange partnership that Muslims and Roman Catholics are forming in demanding a ban. Strange bedfellows these! What’s in it for the Muslims, I wonder?